North-West doctor warns against changing of mandatory helmet laws

Australia’s leading bike riding organisation is open to changing its policies on mandatory helmet laws, but a Burnie doctor and cyclist has warned against it.

The Bicycle Network has supported mandatory helmet laws since they were introduced in Australia in the 1990s but will now undertake a policy review which could lead to a change – in a bid to grow bike riding numbers in the country.

“We just think that all policies should be reviewed from time to time but the other thing is because what we’ve seen is bike riding numbers throughout Australia are very flat, in some areas they have declined,” Bicycle Network chief executive Craig Richards said.

“… the mandatory helmet law is one that a lot of people are interested in so we think it’s time to have a thorough look at it … we’ve certainly got our minds open.”

Mr Richards said the Bicycle Network would look at public and expert opinion as well as literature around the topic but Dr Tom McDonagh warned against any change.

Dr McDonagh works in the emergency department at the North West Regional Hospital and is also a member of the City of Burnie Cycling Club.

He said he had plenty of experience with crashes on the bike, both personally and through his area of work.

“I think they [helmets] should be mandatory for a number of reasons, firstly they do protect the head in a crash and I think they do a good job at that.

“I know often adults and kids who are just going to the shop don’t wear a helmet but I think anyone who goes out for a ride would be wearing one these days.

“I don’t know about the Bicycle Network but maybe they want to get evidence that it should be continued or even enforced more.”

Dr McDonagh said it simply came down to the fact that helmets saved lives and adults needed to set an example for children growing up riding bikes.

“I’ve had crashed and been to crashes where the helmet has been smashed but it’s saved people from getting any head injury at all,” he said.

“I think helmets need to be pf a certain standard an fit properly, you see people wearing all sorts of helmets that aren’t fitted properly or are the wrong size.

“Kids are the ones that will probably ride bikes more and I think it’s important to start them off right from a young age in wearing a helmet as soon as they get on the bike.”

Bicycle Network chief executive Craig Richards said the survey had received almost 15,000 responses already from around the country and they would collate answers by next week.

He said a whole review of the results would be finished by April of next year.